Car truck



CAR TRUCK R. B. COTTRELL Filed June 9, 1944 m I I v March 11, 1947.

Patented Mar. 11, 1947 CAR TRUCK Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 9, 1944, Serial No. 539,441

15 Claims.

My invention relates to railway car trucks.

The general object of my invention is to provide a novel tying arrangement for maintaining the truck side frames properly spaced and in squared relationship.

In this arrangement, a spring plank extends between the side frames and is received at each end thereof within a pocket formed in the inboard side of the associated frames, each frame being provided with interlocking bosses'received within complementary openings in the spring plank. A novel locking member is disposed between the bolster-supporting springs and the extremity of the plank, the transmission of pressure from the compressed springs to the plank maintaining the same in position in the side frame, said member comprising a block forming a portion of the bolster spring seat of the side frame and having an upstanding spring-positioning lug and a depending portion extending through an opening in the seat for engaging the end of the spring plank.

Another object of my invention is the provision of cooperating positioning means on the locking member and side frame, facilitating the entranceand assembly of the locking member with the side frame.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a railway car truck embodyingmy invention, only one end thereof being illustrated inasmuch as the truck is symmetrical about its transverse center line, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view-taken in the transverse horizontal plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the transverse vertical plane 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a, top plan view of one end of the spring plank.

Figures 5 and '6 show my novel locking block, Figure 5 being a top plan view of the same, and Figure 6 being a side view of the block looking from the right in Figure 5.

The present improvement of tying means for maintaining the truck side frames properly spaced and in squared relationship is illustrated in its embodiment in a railway car truck side frame comprising a compression member 2, a tension member 4, and a column 8 adjacent each end of the frame, defining with said members a bolster opening 8. Beneath the bolster opening the tension member 4 is of box section comprising top and bottom chords l2 and i4 (Figure 3) and inboard and outboard webs l6 and I8, said top.

2 chord being widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges 2i! and 22 defining a spring seat or shelf 24.

A plurality of springs, diagrammatically shown at 26, 21 and 28, are seated on the seat 24 and are held in position thereon by the cooperative relationship of the upstanding lugs 50 of the seat and lugs 3!! of the inboard and outboard flanges ill and 22 surrounding the respective springs to position the same for cooperation with the downwardly projecting lugs SI of the bolster 32 in order to support the bolster.

The sideframes of the truck are maintained in proper alignment by a spring plank 33 extending .therebetween and interconnecting the same to hold the side frames in the proper spacing and to keep them in substantially squared relationship. a

In accordance with the present. invention, there is provided the novel. tying arrangement for securing these desirable results in which the tension member! comprises a pocket 34 in the inboard side thereof defined by the top chord H, a horizontal flange 36 extending therebeneath transversely of the inboard web 16, and by spaced end walls 38, 38 integrally formed with the flange 36 and'the top chord I2. The flange 35 is'provided with a pair of upstanding bosses 39, 39 received within complementary openings 46, 4!! in the spring plank or tie bar 33 which is seated on the flange 36 and projects into the pocket at. T0 permit entrance of the spring plank into the pocket 34, the upstanding flanges 32, Mat opposite sides of the spring plank are relieved as indicated at 43. The end of the spring plank is maintained in position on the bosses 39,

39 of the flange 36 by a locking element or block 44 bearing against the top of the spring plank and holding the same in tight engagement with the flange 36.

Th locking member or block 44 is shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6 and said block comprises the.v T-shaped plate 45 seated. on, and fitting within, a complementary recessed portion 48 in the top chord and substantially coplanar therewith. As shown in Figure 2, the plate 45 forms a portionof the seat for the springs 26 and ill supporting the bolster and has an upstanding lug 5t! thereon cooperative with the lugs on the top chord shelf 24 partly surrounding the spring 25 to retain the spring 26 in position therebetween, the faces 52 of the lugs 50 of the block 44 and the top chord i2 being arcuately formed for this purpose and also for cooperating with the lugs 36 of the flanges 20 and 22 for position- I plate as ing the springs 21 and 2B. The block 45 also com prises 8, depending portion or flange 54 extending downwardly therefrom through an opening 56 in the top chord, within the recessed portion 48 thereof, for engaging the upper surface of the 5 spring plank extremity.

It will be apparent that upon positioning the springs 26, and 21 on the'portion of "the seat *24. defined by the plate 56 of the block 34 underneath the bolster, the pressure exerted by the weight 1 of the bolster and the load carried thereby upon" the springs 25 and 2? will be transmitted to th eof the block 4 to cause the depending flange 54 of the block to bear againstthauppen surface of the spring plank extremity'tosecurely maintain the spring plank in tight engagement with the flange 54 of the block andiin.interlock v ing engagement with the bosses 39, 39 of. the... flange 3E5. i

It is to be understood-that I do not wish to be-liinited by the-exactembodiinent' of 'tlie' devic'esh'own which is me'rely by; way of illustra tion and not limitation as various and other forms of the device willjof course; be apparent t'o th'ose skilled in" tl'ie art'withoutdepartingirom the 2 spirit of the-invention or the scope of the claims,

1. Ina-railway cartru'ck, a'side f'ramecom prising 'topand-'bottom-members and'spacedcol umns dfininga bolster opening, said bottom" member being of box section'beneath said bolster opening with the I top chord of=said "box section widened" and formed with" upstanding: inboard androutb'oardflanges. partially defining. aspring seat; upstanding spring positioning lugs on said seatjspringst on: said: seat, a bolster l supported iby said springs in sai'd bolster' opening; a substan tially horizontal flange extending from the in board side of said l bottom member beneath said toprchord -and definingrtherewith a pocket, up standing: 5 bosses; on: said? horizontal flange, aspring :plank 'seatedsonrsai'drhorizontalxflange tand; comprising openingssreceivin i respective: bosses-,7 and? a; locking member: engaging one off saidspringsiand' said;plank;"'said member comprising a :plate';T sl1aped;.:inplan. .view recessed :within. saidiitop chord. and substantially zcoplananth'ere-zz withr-fdrming a: portion: ofrsaidf springaseat said i platelincluding a :sprin'gqoositi'o'ningr'lugv :on; the 1 seat-portion thereof :and:a;:depending portion eX tending. throughrsaidtop. chordtinto .said pocket-t forpengagement witlnsaid: spring 'plank.

2; In...a::r.ai'lway car. .truck, aisside frame: .00 prising; top ;and bottom members andispaced (cola umns defining az-bolster. opening; said:.-bottom: membenbeing.ofbox:section:beneath;saidzbolsten" 1 openingzwith the: top .chord "of said box section widened and: formed with; upstandinginboard. and ioutboard :flanges partially." definingrarspring A seat, upstanding spring-positioning lugsg'onisaidi seat, ,spnings-lon. said:seat,-. azlbolster. supportedpby said springszain asaid;,:bolster.::openin g; a substanatiali c horizontalaflange. :extendin'g from: .theeine boardtside ntsaid bottomsmembenzbeneath:said; topzch'ord': andzidefining: therewithia pocket; pup-1 standingz; bosses; on; said"; horizontal. flange; a:

springgplanksseatedtong-said horizontal flange;

and: comprising: openings receiving respective T bosses and: a; locking rgmember engaging one :of i said;springs andisaid plank, saidtm'ember include I ing: a plattrecessed within: said:;.top '.chord i. and substantiallyx-coplanar itherewithi'iornrlng aapon-t tion aoftfsaid spring "seat,- said 'iplate-including a a spring-positioning lugr'onta saidrspring seat :and a:

depending portion: extending: through :said stop-1:7 5 by .4 chord and into said pocket for engagement with said spring plank. I

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom'members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box section widened ,:and "formed with upstanding inboard and outboardflanges partially defining a spring seat, upstanding spring-positioning lugs on said seat, springs onsaid seat, a bolster supported by said springs in said bolster opening, a substantiallyhorizontal flange extending from the inboard: sidei-ofirsaidiabottom member beneath said top-:chord and defining therewith a pocket, up standing boss-es on said horizontal flange, a spring -plankxseatedron said horizontal flange and comprising openings receiving respective bosses, and a locking member engaging one of said springs and said plank, said member including a plates.-forming a: porti0n.:of said spring seat and having an.i-upstandingqlug' thereon cooperatively V associatedmwitlm said: firstanamed lugsior. posi-ztioning said;springs therebetweem and .a dependsing portion engaging said plank;-

4.; In: a railwaycar, truck,- a side: framecomprisinggtoplandbottom members and. spaced col=- umns. definingqa bolsteropening, said, bottom. member being-oi box section. with a widened-top chord:.afiordinggaspring,seat,springrpositioning, lugsvon said seat,s between. said lugs, a bolster. supported by said springsin said;bolster. openingizan-fiange project-i ingjrom 1 the inboard side 0f=;saidbottom meme be'rebeneath saidrtopehord and defining .a .pocket. a therewith, as spring; planln extending. intol saids pockets. andrmeansw. securing said: planks therewithin;said seouring neansincluding a-platerdisposedbetween one-ofisaid-springs and-said planksaida'plate ,being-,recessed within said top chord; and-:forminga portionot; said springseatsandline: eluding an upstanding spring positioning lug;and a .depending portionengaging said plank;

5:: In a: railway ;car:tr.uck

,3 a side frame com.- prisingtop ;and: bottom "memb ersgandr spaced C011-= umnsdefiningga' bolster opening,- said.bottom member being of box section with-gazwi denede top;-.- chord affording a spring seat, spring-positioning lugson said .seat springs on". said seat received between; said: lugs; a bolster. supported by said:' springs-:invsaidbolster opening,- a (flange projectinggirom:theiinboardaside of saidv bottommem- 1 ber: beneath saidtop chord and'defining apecket;.. therewith, .1 a spring, plank; extending; into said. pocket, means securing; said planktherewithin, said securing means including a plate recessed within-:said-topphord and substan'tially coplanar therewith" forming a-.-portion-;of .said spring seat, said: plate :including an upstandingspring'rposrtioning lug on said spring seat portionyandajder pending pprtion extending;v through. said-y top chord intosaidrppcketaion-engagement Witl'liSaid' spring piankaz.

6. In a railway'ear truck;- arsideri-fr.arne.--.coms. prising topandibottommembers.-and:spaced:col=- umnse defining.;;. a1. bolster opening; said I bottom:

member-being of box;section..with;a .widenedtop; V

chord afibrding; anaspring --seat,;springs5 on said-.1 seat, a -.b0lster.: suported:.;by,.: saidnspri'ngsjn said; bolster opening, afiangemrojecting*fromzxthexine boardcside1.ofisaid r-bottom memberr' beneath said" top: chord :andr: defining." a. pocket I therewith; a springiplankrextending .into said pocket; a'nd i means (securing isaidzplank 5"Withil1' said-pocket; 'saidisecuring meansdncludinga rigid;,platere prings on:saidseatreceived; g

' springs on said seat, a projection cessed within" said top chord substantially coplanar therewith and forming a portion of said spring seat, said plate including a depending portion extending through said top chord into said pocket for engagement with said spring plank.

7. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member beingof box section with a widened top chord affording a spring seat, springs on'said seat, a bolster supported by said springs on said seat, a flange projectin from the in board side of said bottom member beneath said top chord and defining a pocket therewith, a spring plank extending into said pocket, and means securing said said means including a rigid plate T-shaped in plan View engaging a correspondingly shaped recessed portion of said tially coplanar therewith for forming a portion of said seat, said plate including a depending portion extending through said top chord into said pocket for engagement with said spring plank.

8. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a spring seat on said bottom member, springs on said seat, means on said seat for positioning said springs thereon, a bolster supported by said on the inboard side of said bottom member beneath said seat and defining therewith a pocket, a spring plank extend ng into said pocket, and means securing said plank within said pocket, said means including a locking element seated on a recessed portion of said bottom member and forming therewith said spring seat, said element having means cooperatively associated with said firstnamed spring-positioning means for positioning said springs and a depending portion extending through said seat into said pocket for engagement with said plank.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a spring seat on said bottom member, springs on said seat, a bolster supported by said springs on said seat, a pocket in the inboard side of said bottom. member beneath said seat, a spring plank extending into said pocket, means securing said plank Within said pocket, said means including a plate seated on said bottom member and forming therewith said spring seat, said plate including an upstanding lug engaging one of Said springs for positioning the same, and a depending portion extending through the seat of said bottom member into said pocket for engagement with said plank.

10. In a railway car truck, a side frame com prising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith an opening, a spring seat on said bottom member, springs on said seat, a member supported by said springs on said seat, a pocket in the inboard side of said bottom member below said seat, a tie bar extending into said pocket, a member T-shaped in plan view and recessed Within said spring seat and substantially coplanar therewith, said member including spring-positioning means cooperative with spring-positioning means on said seat, and a depending portion extending into said pocket for engagement with said tie bar.

11. A spring seat member comprising a plate plank within said pocket,

top chords and substan- A the leg of said plate prising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges partially defining a spring seat, spring-positioning means on said seat, springs on said seat, a bolster supported by said springs in said bolster opening, a substantially horizontal flange extending from the inboard side of said bottom member beneath said top chord and defining therewith a pocket, a spring plank seated on said horizontal flange, and a locking member engaging one of said springs and said plank, said member comprising a plate T- shaped in plan view recessed within said top chord and substantially coplanar therewith forming a portion of said spring seat, said plate including spring-positioning means cooperative with the means on said seat and a depending portion extending through said top chord into said pocket for engagement with said spring plank.

13. In a railway car' truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced tially horizontal flange extending from the in-' board side of said bottom member beneathsaid top chord and defining therewith a pocket, a

. spring plank seated on said horizontal flange, and

a locking member engaging one of said springs and said plank, said member including a plate recessed within said top chord and substantially coplanar therewith forming a portion of said spring seat, said plate including spring-positioning means on said spring seat and a depending portion extending through said top chord and into said pocket for engagement with said spring plank.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges partially defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, a bolster supported by said springs in said bolster opening, a substantially horizontal flange extending from the inboard side of said bottom member beneath said top chord and defining therewith a pocket, a spring plank seated on said horizontal flange, and a locking member engaging one of said springs and said plank, said member including a plate forming a portion of said spring seat and having means positioning its associated spring and a depending portion engaging said plank.

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring seat on planar therewith formin iazportion ofsaid spring seat, 'saidii plate, including. springmositioning means: cs0-perative:. with:. said; first-mentioned springepositioning :means, and. a: depending-portion: extending through: .the :1 spring seat of vsaid bottom memberinto saidypocket; farengagement. 15f

with;said;spring plank;

ROBERT? B; COTTRELL.

The following referencesare of recordimfihfile of this patent:

UNITED STATES, PATENTS. V

I Number Name v Date? Biisse Apr.'26,'-1933 Covert"1 May 301 1911 Clasen Ju'ne 2351936 Bower 1-.., Nov.- 10, 1936 Ciasenu June 10,- 1930' Clasen June-10, 1930' Light 861311.13} 1933' 

